Revolving manifolding register



June 6, 1933.. A w METZNER 1,912,908

RE'voLvIne MANIFOLDING REGISTER Fild May 21, 1930 V 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS June 6, 1933. I j A. w. METZNER 1,912,903

aEvoLvim MANIFOLDING REGISTER Filed May '21, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

A TTORNEYJ Patented June 6, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- AIBERT w. ME'IZNER, or DAYTON, onro, ASSIGNOR 'ro aroma a. samurai, or DAYTON, -onIo REVOLVING MANIFOLIDING REGISTER Application filed Ma 21,1930. Serial No. 454,449.

My invention provides a novel form of desk manifolding register adapted to be set into a hole in a desk or table and adapted 1 to be revolved in its mountings in such a way that it can be turned completely and continuously around. The use of manifold-- ing registers set into the tops of tables anddesks has grown rapidly in recent months. Hitherto, however, they have suffered from the disadvantage that they could not be used except in one position. A clerk desiring to write upon such registers found it necessary to go around upon that side of the table or desk toward which the register was in operative position. It wasinot possible to present the regwrite up an order and then ister to a customer either for his inspection of the items 1 written down by the clerk or for his signature. The same inherent defeet is present in registers which are not built into a supporting surface, because such registers are usually too heavy and bulky to be moved with ease, excepting they be mounted upon some sort of turntable.

It is an object of my invention to rovide a register which may be revolved, an to thisend to provide a construction involving suit able paper feeding mechanism, and suitable storage spaces for the paper to be fed and for the record sheet, all of which will be selfcontained in a structure adapted to be mounted for rotation.

It is another object of my invention to provide a mounting fora revolving autographic register which will permit free rotation without wabbling or insecurity; and in the broad aspect of my invention, it is immaterial whether my register be mounted within a hole cut in a desk or table top, or

not.

These and other objects of my invention which will be pointed out hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading this specification, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe a preferred embodiment, reference being had to the drawings which accompany these specifications.

In the drawings Figure 1 is 'a perspective view of one form of my register with the cover open.

'Figure 2 is a view of my register with the top closed, the View taken from the record cabinet side and showing the recordcabinet open.

Figure 3 is a view the register.

Figure 4 shows my register in position in the top of a desk or counter.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through my register showing the mounting device which I prefer to use.

Figure 6 shows mounting device.

Figure 7 shows a base for my mounting provided with rings to conduct current to the register.

Figure 8 is a view of the other member of my preferred mounting device provided with brushes or contact points cooperating with the said rings.

The manifolding mechanism comprising means for feeding the manifolding forms and means for retaining the carbons in the proper position may be such as. are well known in the art and will not be particular-1 ly described by, me. In the embodiment shown, I have illustrated an electrically driven machine. 80

I provide. generally a frame work supporting the paper feeding mechanism and comprising an upper structure with ends 1 and 2, a bottom portion 3 and side members 4 and 5. 'These sides will, in the embodiment shown, be set somewhat inwardly from the ends of the end members 2, leaving upon both sides a shelf like construction upon which parts of the mechanism may be mounted. I have shown in the several figures, a motor drive 6 mounted upon-one ofthese shelves. -A cover" 7 is hingedly mounted to the member 2 and iscut away at 8 to expose the platen or writing table as will be well understood, and at 9 to give access to the control means for the motor drive. It may be provided rwith chains 10 attached to posts 11 on the frame work to door of the from the other side of support the top when in raised position and it may also be provided with a lock 12 to lock it closed. Guiding lugs 13 may facilitate the closing of the lid in proper position; and in the embodiment shown, a bracketlike structure 14 is provided to act as a supplementary support for the front of the lid. The lock 12 engages a portion of this bracket.

I suspend from this framework a structure which holds the blank forms to be fed through the machine, and the record sheet. This -may comprise sides 15 and 16, a bottom plate 17 and partition members 18 and 19 which are interspaced so as to leave a portion centrally located in the frame work where my mounting means may be located. The front of the cabinet may be left open as at 20 in Figure 3 but the record form cabinet is preferably fitted with a door 21 in Figure 2 equipped with a lock 22. It will be clear that I have provided a structure in which the paper feeding and driving mechanisms and the storage cabinets for paper forms ma all be supported together and particular y from a point of suspension "which acts upon the bottom plate 3 of the upper frame work.

I provide such a suspension, in my preferred embodiment, in the form of a stand 23 hearing a post 2 1. The upper end of the post is ground to a point and I provide a caring on the bottom plate 3 comprising a plate having a tapered bearing therein for suspension upon the point of the post. This hearing may comprise a plate or plates 25 3 having the opening just described and preferably provided with a sleeve 26 surrounding the post 4 so as somewhat to increase the stability of the device by preventing its swinging. with relation to the post 24. In the embodiment of Fig. 5, I have shown the plate 25 as lying below the bottom plate 3 and an upper plate 250, overlying the member 3. The two plates may be bolted or otherwise fastened together. The stand 23 will be made of sufficient diameter to give the requisite degree of stability but particularly where the device is'to be suspended within the opening of a desk, the base need not be large. The particular suspension -means employed by me, acting upon the frame work above the bottom, serve to suport the register with its center of ravity low the suspension point, thus furt er increasing its stability. As hereinabove indicated, my register need not be mounted within a desk or table top. When notso mounted, it will be provided with an outer I shell not shown covering the frame work and preferably cylindrical in shape so that, with the cover 7 it will give a finished appearance to the machine.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 3,

.I have shown rubber stops 27 which are arranged to strike an abutment within the desk or counter so as to permit the rotation of the register only through some predetermined arc, say of 180. When this is done, I may merel provide to the'motor drive, a suitable flexi le cord or connection 28.

It is frequently desirable however, to provide a register which is adapted for free rotation and is not stopped or held against rotation beyond a predetermined point; and when this is done, it is necessary to provide some means other than a flexible cord to conduct current to the motor drive. I do this, in following my invention in a machine adapted for free rotation, by providing upon the stand 23 suitable conductor rings 29 and 30 to which the terminals of the cord 31 are made fast in electrical contact. I then provide in the lower part of the sleeve 26 (Figure 5) a suitable fiber or other insulating disc or washer 32. Upon the end of this washer, illustrated in plan in Figure 8, I attach brushes or contact points 33 and 34 which contact respectively with the rings 29 and 30. It'will be readily understood that this arrangement will permit the conducting of current to the motor drive as by wires 35 and 36, irrespective of the rotation or the position of the manifolding register with reference to the stand.

An oil hole 37 may, if desired, be provided in the bearing plate 25. It will be understood that the bearing and stand will preferably be centrally located in the register.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a manifolding register, a frame for supporting feeding mechanism for paper forms, a cover for said frame giving access to the writing table of said feeding mechanism and to actuating means therefor, paper storage means suspended from said frame and means for mounting said register for rotation, said means acting upon said frame above the center of gravity of said register, said means comprising a bearing on said frame work and an external supporting means coacting with said bearing.

2. In a manifolding register, a frame for supporting feeding mechanism for paper forms, a cover for said frame giving access to the writing table of said feeding mechanism and to actuating means therefor, paper storage means suspended from said frame and means for mounting said register for rotation, said means comprising a stand provided with a post having a bearing sur-' anism and to actuating means therefor, aper storage means suspended from said rame and supporting means for mounting said register for rotation, said means comprising a stand provided with a post having'a bearing surface, and bearing means attached to said frame centrally thereof, said storage means located to permit the central passage of said supporting means, and relatively movable contact elements on said supporting means and on said frame, making electrical connection irrespective of the rotation of said manifolding register.

4. A revolving manifolding register comrising an upper frame work for supporting eeding mechanism for paper forms, a lower frame work comprising storage cabinets for paper forms and provided with a central space for the passage of supporting means, a cover for said upper frame work having openings to permit access to the writin table of said feeding means and to contro means therefor, and supporting means operating through said central space to sup port said manifolding register by' means of said upper frame work at a point above the center of gravity of said register, said supporting means comprising a stand and a post, and bearing means on said upper frame work comprising a bearing plate and a sleeve supporting said ost.

5. A revolving mani olding register comrising an upper frame work for support- 1ng feeding mechanism for paper forms, a lower frame work comprising storage cabinets for paper forms and provided with a central space for the assage of supporting means, a cover for sald upper frame work having openings to permit access to the writing table of said feeding'means and to control means therefor, and supporting means operating through said central space to support said manifolding register by means of said upper frame work at a point above the center of gravity of said register, said supporting means comprising a stand and a post, and bearing means on said upper' frame work comprlsing a bearing plate and a sleeve supporting saidpost, conducting rings and brushes respectively upon said sleeve and on said stand whereby current may be conducted to said feeding mechanism' irrespective of the rotation of said register.

6. The combination with a manifolding register structure of a vertical supporting shaft having a pivotal thrust engagement with the register structure above the level of the center of gravity thereof, about which engagement the mechanism is revoluble.

7. In a construction of the character described, a manifolding register structure including a storage compartment for manifolding supplies and having a central opening extending from the bottom to approximately the to of the register structure, and a vertically isposed pivotal shaft extending within said opening, and a thrust bearing at the top of said shaft, upon which the register structure is suspended for .rotary motion.

a 8. The combination with an electrically operated manifolding register of a supporting structure upon which the register is mounted for rotary motion, means for supplying current to the electrically operated manifolding register including complementary wipe contacts upon the register and the support, for maintaining closed electrical connection throughout the rotary adj ustment of the register structure relative to the support.

9. The combination with an electrically operated manifolding register, a support therefor upon which the register is mounted for rotary motion, supplying current to the register, of a pair of contacts arranged concentrically with the axis of rotation, and a second pair of contacts having wipe contact engagement with the first contacts, such pairs of contacts being relatively movable while maintaining electrical contact during the rotary motion of the register to maintain unbroken the electrical supply circuit.

10. The combination with an electrically operated manifolding register, a support therefor upon which the register is mounted for rotary motion, and an electric circuit supplying current to the register, of a pair of relatively movable wipe contacts included in said circuit, one of which is carried bythe register and the other by the support for maintaining the electrical circuit unbroken during the rotary adjustment of the register.

11. The combination with an electrically operated manifolding register, a support therefor upon which the register is mounted for rotary motion, and an electriccir'cuit supplying current to the register, and a wipe contact in said circuit movable in unison with the rotation of the manifolding. regand an electric circuit ister for maintaining the electrical supply c1rcu1t unbroken throughout the revoluble adjustment of the register.

12. In a manifolding register, a register structure including electrically operated paper feeding mechanism and a; storage housing for paper, a vertical shaft upon which the register structure is mounted in substantially balanced relation for rotary motion,

an electrical circuit supplying current to theregister, a support on which said register is rotatable, and power means for operating said register, mounted partly on said register paper feeding mechanism and a traveling and partly on said support, and comprising an operative connection permittlng said register to rotate on said support and operating said mechanism at all positions of the register into which the register is rotatable on said support.

14. In a support for a manifolding register, a pair of telescopically arranged relatively rotatable members, including, respectively, a sleeve with a thrust bearing near one end and a journal bearing near the other end, and a shaft through said journal bear ing and engaging said thrust bearing, one of said members supporting the register, and a base supporting the other member.

' 15. A table and register assembly of the kind wherein the re ister has a top with an exposed writing sur ace and the table has a top with its upper surface close to a transverseplane through said register top and hasan opening through which said writing surface is exposed, characterized by the fact that the table top is spaced from the register to permit the register to rotate relatively to the top on an upright axis, and by the fact that there is combined with the register a support on which said register is rotatable on said axis in position to expose said Writing surface through said opening in all positions into which said register is rotatable on said axis, in which the register includes mechanism for advancing a record element across the writing surface, and driving means for driving said mechanism, said mechanism and said driving means being located entirely below the plane of the register top.

-ALBERT W. METZNER. 

